How bad is the Economy hurting your situation?

I have been thinking about the economy, and being in the automotive business I have seen many shops we have dealt with that are closing down. A very good customer/friend of ours just got laid off after working at the same shop for the past 17 years. Times are getting tough, a lot of people are not doing well. I was interested to see if anyone has had to give anything up, or stop going out etc etc. I have been watching my money closely since I had been in high school, and have been really pinched because to be frank, I don't make a lot of money, but I live well under my means, so that is good.

 

My employer had by far a record gross sales year, ending 7/31/08. No complaints here, and 08/09 is off to an excellent start as well.

Wife's situation is much less stable, so we're being very careful financially.

 

The ecomony-aka Bush economics-is hurting me bad.The plant i worked at- Dana Corp-layed 300 of us off permanent 1st July.What we did there was make Ford truck frames-no one is buying any new trucks-Ford or otherwise.It was a good union job-one i liked.That along with other things prompted me to sell my 72 Stage1 i was restoring.I give up on cars till things start looking brighter-if they ever do....I'm having a hell of of a time finding a job that paid as well.Thank god for unemployment!
I still have the original but beefed-up 402 BB chevy engine from my 72 Chevelle SS i totaled out in `86,it's been in my dads farm truck since `87 he retired his 81 chevy 4X4 farm truck this year-so i got the engine back,still purrs like kitten.I tell you that truck has suprised a few people over the years-lol.I might have to go the Chevelle route if i'm ever able to get back into cars again.That engine still means alot to me.I'd like to see it up & running in a Chevelle again.I can atleast get parts easier too.I still would like to have a 71 or 72 GSX clone someday,not sure it's gonna happen though.

 

No one buys Ford trucks because the price of fuel has skyrocketed. Its Bush's fault in as much as he has swallowed the global warming crap the democrats/enviromentalists have been preaching and not lobbied hard for increased oil drilling and domestic oil production. I believe the soft economy can be laid squarely at the door of the anti oil activists who have put this country and our economy in danger and the politicians who have followed along.

I will also forcast that this thread wont last the rest of the day.

 

I doubt it'll last either-lol.I really glad for those who have made a profit from this economy.I know for dang sure i haven't.

 

On the other hand, the price of fuel has given our Ford Ranger plant in St. Paul another reprieve from being shut down. For now.

The printing company I work for has had one of it's busiest summers.
Summer is usually the slow time of the year traditionally, but last month my location had one of the best months in terms of sales in recent memory!
Thing is, when the economy is down it means companies are doing more promoting of their business which in turn helps us.

On the home front we are really watching our spending, not eating out, or ordering pizza as much, not driving needlessly.
Not that we went out to eat that much before, but I do miss my weekly pizza!
We are also preparing the house for winter more so than in years past.
We are staying current on everything, but some weeks the pocket book gets pretty slim.



This thread will be fine if we keep our comments free of finger pointing, and going down that road.


:Comp:

 

Interesting, Snap On is our main tool supplier, everything from pullers-jacks-wrenches-flashlights. We actually started to pick up some good work this week. A lot of shops are having trouble keeping the doors open, I know an owner who had to take another loan out to pay his payroll taxes.

 

Okay, I'll bite.

Saying that the economy has been hurt because we haven't given the okay to drill in Alaska or offshore when such projects wouldn't produce oil for ten to twenty years, and when the oil companies themselves have been lukewarm on the idea at best (because only $4 to $5 a gallon oil prices would make the effort worthwhile) and when the volume of oil produced would at most equal 5 percent of our consumption and would have close to zero impact on world oil prices, is incredibly unrealistic and reeks of simply wanting to blame someone other than the party you support.

In reality, high gas prices (and material prices) are pretty much here to stay -- the main cause being the increased industrialization of China and India.

Hey, Ross Perot had it right -- the giant sucking sound of jobs going abroad due to both Republican and Democratic policies is at the root of our present problems. Give the Republicans 2/3 of the blame, the Dems about 1/3 on this one.

We don't make anything in this country other than houses (and poorly designed cars), so we pumped the housing market up with funny money to give the illusion of a robust economy, and things finally started to collapse.

I myself think it'll be a rough road ahead. 7% unemployment is not the kind of thing that makes one want to switch jobs. I know I wouldn't risk a secure job for an new unknown right now or anytime in the near future.

-- Steve

 

That argument doesnt hold any water, Alaskans have wanted to tap our oil and gas resources for the last 20 years. But the democrat party and spineless republicans have said no, for 20 years, We would have that oil coming to market for at least the last 10 years if the obstructionist environmentalist extreamists would get out of the way.

 

A lot! Even though my current employer is still managing to do okay, i have just about no hope of finding another job if I needed to- all the manufacturing has left the country.

I know many other people in the manufacturing sector that have lost their jobs too- too bad because they are highly skilled.

Oh yeah, I know plenty of service-sector people who have lost their jobs too, because they provide services to us manufacturers. And I know several accountants and other people who *used* to work for manufacturing companies who are also out of a job.

I am in favor of some protectionist measures! Stop buying from China and help eliminate the trade deficit!

-Bob C.

 

My company just laid off 20% of the workforce...makes my job a little harder. :eek2:

 

I wouldn't say I'm just treading water. I'd say I'm breathing through a garden hose from the bottom!

 

I ran a small management consulting business (mine) from 2002 to this past August.

Business was great until late 2006, when clients would be postponing and delaying projects. 2007 was dead, almost no business.

I ended up spending a big chunk of my nest egg to stay afloat.

The bush administration has demolished the American dream. The only folks who made out were the rich and the big corporations.

I will never ever vote for a republican ever.

Oh, I saw what bush senior did to our economy from 1988-1992. Do you think it is a fluke that bush junior is a eff up????

 

David, what do you do if you don't mind me asking?
It's refreshing to hear some businesses doing well.

We are doing ok...or pretty good. My brother and I own a NAPA store (he's a silent partner) and are just over 2 years old. But we took over a failing store and really turned it around, so it kind of fuzzes up how the economy is affecting us.

But what I did notice since we are somewhat established now, is our wholesale has leveled off or in some cases like our independent DHL store decreased, and our retail has increased enough to offset it, and is actually making us stay ahead of last year's sales each month. (we've shown an increase every month since being here)

So, that tells me people who normally don't work on there own vehicles are doing so to help save some dollars.

 

hmmm just a thought... Democrap's took over in 2006 hmmm..............:TU:

 

We are in distribution/wholesale/retail ag sales. Some equipment lines, but mainly in supplies, repair parts, and things like water/chemical pumps, poly tanks for water/chemical/fertilizer storage, fertilizer tank & trailer setups, spraying accessories/parts, etc. Had a couple down years prior to this, esp 2006, so the current ag economy has been good for us.

Wife's employer has been laying off company-wide, and they are a somewhat global corporation. She had to change positions there a month ago for some job security. Hates it, and is job hunting.


NOTE: If the political jabs don't stop, this thread will go away, or such posts will be removed. The topic does not require that anyone comment politically. uzzled:

 

This is the mentality I just don't understand on a rational basis. My guess its that it is just a "party loyalty" thing. The only solutions I have ever heard from democrat candidates is higher taxes and more government programs. How does that help the economy? o No:

Not a political Jab, it's just that inquiring minds want to know.....

 

The ag business is flurishing very very well here, come to think of it. Which boils down to the farmers doing well...
It's awesome to see the farmers do so well and it helps us all, but I wonder why are they prospering in these times?

 

Bush bashing on this website not allowed. This thread may be deleted very quickly. If anyone has anything to add, do it quickly!! Bush policies,the middle east war, greedy bankers and Congress have run this country and economy down the road to ruin. They are all in bed together. The subprime thing and high energy prices due to massive inflation are the cause of our recession/coming depression.

Watch this quick clip...
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=NU6fuFrdCJY